Earth Systems Science & Policy, B. S.~ Science and Social Justice Concentration Requirements

Note that many of the courses listed below have required lab components.

MLO 1 Quantitative Foundations ~ Students must be able to apply the fundamental mathematical and statistical constructs used to communicate quantitative information within the context of Earth Systems Science & Policy.

  • Complete both of the following: MATH 150/L Calculus I; a statistics course approved by your advisor

MLO 2 Earth Systems Science & Policy Foundations ~ Students must be able to apply basic scientific principles and methods to the study of: (a) major physical and life science components of the earth system, including the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere, as well as the chemical and physical processes underlying these components, and (b) human components of the earth system including the social, economic, and political structures that shape our interactions without environment.

MLO 3 Natural Science Competency ~ Students must be able to understand, use, and accurately communicate advanced scientific concepts.

MLO 4 Policy Competency ~ Students must understand and accurately communicate state, federal, and local political structures and processes and their relationships, as well as landmark environmental laws and regulations.

  • Complete one of the following: ESSP 384S Envir Justice & Envir Poli SL; SBS 385 CA/Gov/Politic/Environ/History; ESSP 386 Sci, Enviro & Polit Process; ESSP 387 Water Resource Assess/Law/Poli *

MLO 5 Data Acquisition, Analysis, and Display ~ Demonstrate proficiency with current technologies for acquiring, analyzing, and displaying data relevant to a real-world problem.

MLO 6  Systems Approach to Environmental Decision Making ~ Students must be able to demonstrate skill in the application of general systems theory, system modeling, stakeholder analysis, cost/benefit analysis or other interdisciplinary analysis tools to evaluate the equitability and the effectiveness of alternative environmental decisions, policies, or actions.

  • Complete one of the following: ESSP 301 Ecosys Srvs: Sci&Econ Anl; ESSP 303L California Transect Lab; ESSP 309 Sci & Policy of Global Change; ESSP 387 Water Resource Assess/Law/Poli *  

MLO 7 Area of Concentration ~ Students must be able to apply advanced knowledge and skills in science and social justice.

  • Group I—Environmental Justice
    Complete: ESSP 384S Envir Justice & Envir Poli SL
  • Group II—Justice Service Practicum
    Choose one of the following: ESSP 349S Natural History Interpretation; ESSP 369S Com-Based Watershed Restor SL; ESSP 394 Junior Internship; completion of Summer of Service Leadership Academy (SOSLA) through the Service Learning Institute and completion of one year of service as a University Service Advocate
  • Group III—Science and Social Justice Depth
    Choose one of the following: ESSP 38X an upper-division ESSP economics, policy, or ethics course in addition to the course taken to fulfill MLO 3; BIO 3xx, CHEM 3xx, or GEOL 3xx an upper-division science course in addition to the course taken to fulfill MLO 3; another appropriate course approved by your advisor

MLO 8 Scientific Inquiry ~ Students must use the scientific method to design, conduct, and interpret natural science and/or social science investigations, and understand the ethical norms that guide scientific practice.

  • Complete: SBS 366 Research/Meth/Data/Analysis

MLO 9 Effective Communication ~ Students must present clearly (in both written and oral formats) analyses of complex Earth Systems Science & Policy issues.

  • Complete each of the following: ESSP 300 Read, Writ & Crit Thnk in ESSP; ESSP 400 Capstone Seminar I; ESSP 403 Capstone Seminar II

MLO 10 Service Learning ~ Students must demonstrate the ability to combine disciplinary knowledge and community experiences to share the relevance and importance of science with culturally, linguistically, technologically, and economically diverse populations in the context of issues of social responsibility, justice, diversity, and compassion.

  • You fulfill MLO 10 requirements by fulfilling the Group 1 and Group 2 requirements listed under MLO 7.

  * ESSP 387 may be used to satisfy MLO 4 or 6, but not both simultaneously